Sound-reproducer



E. J. RODGERS.

SOUND REPRODUCER;

APPLICATION FILED SEPT a, 1919.

1,359,467. Patented Nov. 16,1920.

2 SHEETS-@HEET I.

71-1; .1 1 Zlwuwtoz.

E.J. Ronsmns,

E. J. RODGERS.

SOUND REPRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. a, 1919.

1 ,359 ,467. Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E.J.Ronezns.

and State of Nebraska, have invented cer- UNITED s'ra'ra PATENT QFFHCE.

ELWOOID RODGERS, F OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

SOUND-REPRODUCER.

Application fi1ed September 8, 1919. Serial No. 322,349.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Enwoon J. Rosanne, a citizen of the United. States,and a resident of @maha, in the county of Douglas tain new and usefulImprovements in Sound-Reproducers, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to sound reproducing mechanism, and especially toreproducers adapted for use with disk sound-records having; varioustypes of record-grooves therein. to provide a sound-reproducer adaptable1 for use with each of the three common types of disk sound-records,namely (a) lateralcnt records, (6) vertical-cut records with roundedgrooves, and (c) vertical-cut reoords having; ifigrooves; to provide insaid reproducer a diaphragm and an appropriate stylus and stylus-leverfor each of the several types of records above mentioned; to mount themulti dle-diaphragm reproducer upon a single tone-arm and to providemeans bywhich only the appropriate diaphragm-chamber will be placed incommunication with the passage through the tone arm when the respectivestylus is in position for engagement with-the record; to so arrange theseveral styli and diaphragms that any'ol? the styli may be disposed in acorrect operative position by merely rotating the reproducer about anexternal portion ofthe tone-arm; and. in general, to provide a universalreproducer requiring a mini mum of adjustment and of skill upon the partof the operator in order to correctly reproduce sound from records ofany of the types mentioned. a

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side view of mechanismembodyinn'my invention. the reproducer being adjusted for use with thefirst above mentioned (a) type of records, Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection on the line 22 of Fig. 1, F i3. 3 is a vertical section on theline 3-3 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section on the line H ofFig. 2, Fig. 5 is a partialvertical axial section of the reproducer, asadjusted for use with records of the second above mentioned (6) type,Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the reproducer adjusted as in Fig. 5, Fig. 7is a bottom view of the reoroducer, as adjusted for use with records ofthe third above mentioned (0 type, and Fig. 8 is It is the object of myinvention 7 a vertical axial section of the reproducer adjusted as in Fig. 7.

The reproducer mechanism provided by my invention is intended for use inconnection with any suitable machine for rotating a sound-record disk atacontrolled uniform speed, and having the usual soundprojecting oramplifying means, such machines being well known and having a horizontalrotary table A. on which the recorddisk is laid and centered, and. overwhich the reproducer is traversed, the latter being; carried by ahorizontally swingingtonearm which connects the sound-box with the hornor amplifying sound-conduit. In the structure shown I employ a tubulartonearm .11 of the usual tapering form, the larger end thereof beingturned downwardly and being'pivotally connected with a fixed base 12 byanysuitablemeans such that the horizontal portion of the arm may swing,above the rotary table A, parallel therewith and to an extent such as topass over the grooved portion of a recordsd sk upon the table. Near theouter or front endof the tone-arm 11. thesame is turned laterally toform a. hollow bearing-member 13 for a tubular arm. 14:, which ismounted thereon so as to .be swingrable in anvertical plane aboutsaidbearing member. A. circular port 15 in the front side ofthebearinaemember connects the passagethrouah thetone-arm with thatthroughthe arm 14:; As shown in Fig. 2, said arm is held upon thebearina by a washer 16 and a screw 17 which passes throuah thewasher-into theclosed end'of the hollow bearing-member. A cylindricalpart 18, formed integrally with the arm 14, extends back from thebearinmmember'l?) substantially parallel with the main part of thetonearm 11, and filled, as shown-in Fi s; and 8 with material 19 whichforms a 'counterweioht for the arm 14 and the multiple 's'oun debox'whichfis carried thereon.

The sound-box has a central tubular sleeve which fits revolubly upon thetubular arm 14;, and upon the intermediate portion of said sleeve thereare three radially extending tubular portions or necks 30, 40 and 50,which are spaced equiang'ularly about the axis of the sleeve. The outerends of said tubular portions or necks carry respectively thediaphragmscasings 31, 41 and 51, of

which the outer faces are in planes spaced uniformly aboutthe sleeve, asbest shown in s the part 25 enters the seat the diaphragm Fig. 3. Withinsaid casings are held the diaphragms 32, 42 and 52, the edges of thediaphragms being held between pairs of resilient rings 33, 43 and 53disposed within the casings and retained therein by facingrings 34, 44and 54 which are secured to the casings by suitable screws.

In that side of the arm 14 which is near est to the axis of the tone-arm11 there is a circularport 21 which is adapted to register with theinner end of the opening through the necks 30, and in the lower side ofsaid arm 14 there is a similar port 22 which is adapted to register withthe open ings through the necks40 and 50 when the sound-box is rotatedabout the arm to the'appropriate positions.

0n the lower side of the counterweightingextension 18 a flat spring 23is secured by means of screws 24, said spring being downwardly offsetand extended forward as shown in Figs. 5 and 8, so that the free endportion thereof overlaps of the sleeve 20. An adjusting-screw 26,extending through the spring 28 as shown, enables the tension of saidspring to be varied as desired. On the free end of the. spring there isa rounded or semispherical projection 25 adapted to enter seats 35, 45and 55 which are formed in the sleeve near the end thereof, and arrangedcircumferentially as shown in'Fig. 4. The arrangement of the seats 35,-45 and 55 is such that when 32 will extend vertically at theside of thearm 14 nearest the tone-arm 11, the opening through the neck 30 being inregister with the port 21, and when the part 25 enters the seats 45 and55, resp'ectively,thediaphragms 42 and 52 will extend horizontallybeneath the arm 14, and the openings through the necks 40 and 50 will bein register with the port 22.

Referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that when the opening through one ofthe necks is in register with one of the ports 21 and 22, another of theneck-openings will be partially in register with theother of said ports.In order to provide for fullclosing of the last-mentioned port in eachinstance, a valve is provided within the bore of the arm 14, and meansfor actuating said valve automatically by rotation of the sound-boxabout the arm, as follows: The front portion of the arm is counterboredto a larger diameter than the portion adjoining the bearing-mom; ber 13,and in said counterbored portion there is slidably disposed thecup-shaqoed valve-body 27, the same having a port 28 in one side adaptedto register with the port 21 in the arm 14 whenthevalve is in therearward position shown in Fig. 2, and having in the lower "side thereofa port 29 adapted to register with the port 22 when the valve is in theforward position shown the rear end in Fig. 8. In the front end of thearm 14 a plate 60 is secured by means of screws 61, and said plate has asquare central opening therein, through which a square rod 62 passesslidably. The rear or inner end of said rod 62 is threaded and screwedinto the front end of the valve-body 27, and the w front part of said.rod 62 has a squared reduced portion 63 which extends through the endportion of a cup-shaped member 64. Adjoining the portion 63, the end ofthe rod is threaded and has screwed thereon a plate 65 which serves tofixedly retain the mem-- ber 64 thereon. A coil spring 66 is disposedaround the rod 62 within the arm 14, and tends to push the valverearward to the position shown in Fig. 2. The outer or flange portion ofthe cup-shaped member 64 extends over the front end portion of thesleeve 20, and the rear edge of said flange portion is held by thespring 66 against a small roller 67 which is mounted on thesleeve asshown in Fig. 5. Said rear edge of the flange is cam-contoured,approximately onehalfthereof extending parallel with the front face ofthe member, the remainder extending helically about the axis of thesleeve, and there being an abrupt off set or shoulder 68 extending backlongitudinally'of the sleeve from the front end of the helical portion,as best indicated in Figs. 6 and T. In changing the position of thesound-box upon the arm 14, the sleeve 20 is rotated in the'directicn ofthe arrow in Fig. 3, or clockwise as viewed from the front end of thearm. The cam-member 64 and the roller 67 are so arranged that in turningthe sound-box about the arm 14 tothe position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,the roller will just pass the shoulder 68, and thus permit the cam andvalve to be pushed rearward by the spring 66 to the position shown inFig. 2, at which theroller will engage the helical cam'surface at thefront end of said shoulder 68. By further rotation of the sound-box, tobring the same to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the rollertraverses the helical cam-face and pushes the cammember and valve to theforward or second positionthereof. Rotation of thesound-box from thelast-named position to the posi tion shown in Figs. 7 and 8 does notresult in movement of the valve, as that part of the caln-facewhieh isengaged by the roller is parallel with the path of movement of thelatter. The square rod or valve-stem 62 serves, of course, to preventany rotation of the valve and cam-member, and permits only longitudinalsliding movement thereof.

it suitablestylus-lever 36 has one end thereof connected with the centerof the diaphragm 82 and is pivoted between lugs 37 on the facing-ring34,.the outer end of said lever having formed therein a socket forreceiving removably a stylus 38 which Ill is retained in the socket bymeans of a screw 39. Said stylus-lever 36 is so arranged that when thediaphragm 32 is in the vertical position shown in 1, 2 and 3, the leverand stylus will extend diagonally forward and downward, as indicated,the stylus thus being in proper operative position for use withlateral-cut record V on the table A.

To the center of the diaphragm 42 there is connected one end of astylus-lever 46,

said lever being pivoted between lugs l7 on the facing-ring 44, theouter or forward portion of the lever extending out angularly from theface of the diaphragm and having a socket for receiving a removablestylus i8 which is retained in the soclre by a screw 49. Saidstylus-lever 46 is so arranged that when the diaphragm 42 is in thehorizontal position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the stylus will be in properoperative position for use with a vertical-cut record l on the table A.The stylus 4-8 is preferably of the permanent ball-pointed typecustomarily used with vertical-cut records having rounded grooves, andwith which it is desirable that the stylus engage the record at anangular position as shown in Fig. 5.

To the diaphra-m 52 there is connected one end of a stylus-le er whichis pivoted between lugs 5? on tr e facing-ring 5a, the outer or frontend-p0 on of the lever being turned out substa; rally at right angles tothe plane oi the diaphragm and having a socket formed therein "forreceiving a stylus 58 which is retained in the soclret by means of ascrew 59. Said stylus-lever 56 is so arranged that when the diaphragm 52is in the horizontal position shown in. Figs. 7 and 8 the stylus 58 willbe in proper operative position for use with a vertical-cut record E onthe table A. The stylus 58 is preferably of the type having a permanentV -point of diamond or like hard material, such as is commonly used forvertical-cut records having V-shaped grooves, and with which it isdesirable that the stylus extend substantially perpendicular to the.tace of the record, as shown in Fig. 8.

The general arrangement of the parts is such that when each stylus is inoperative position the point thereof is at a distance from the verticalpivotal. axis of the tonearm 11 such that in traversing the record thestylus-point moves in an arc intersecting the center of the table A.Each stylus thus moves across the grooved part of a record upon a pathwhich is nearly radial thereto, and in conformity with the path ofmovement of the recording stylus used in producing the original ormaster records. It will also be noted that each styluslever is soarranged that when in operative position it will lie substantially inplane extending through the pivotal axis of the tone-arm,- and tangentto the record-groove at the point engaged by the stylus. This isetl'ected by disposing the levers 46 and 56 at a slight angle to theaxis of the sleeve 20, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and by soproportioning the parts that the lateral oilset oi the lever 36 from theaxis of the sl eve is enough to bring said lever substantially intoalinement with the tone-arm 11, when viewed as in Fig. 2.

Thus it will be seen that my invention provides reproducing mechanismfor each of the described classes or types of sound-records, each groupof the mechanism having its own diaphragm, stylus-lever and stylus; thestyli being of the proper form and material, arranged to engage therecord at the correct angle, and to traverse the record in the desiredway. It will also be seen that, by the arrangement of the several diaphragm-casings in the manner described to form the multiple sound-box,and by the use of the automatically controlled valve 27, the onlyoperation required, in adjusting the instrument for use with asound-record. of any class, is the mere rotation of the multiplesound-box about the arm 14 until the proper stylus is in position toengage the record. I am thus able to dispense with such operations aschanging styli, varying the length of the tone-arm, varying the positionof a stylus-lever relatively to the soundbox, or adjusting ofcounter-weights, in adapting the instrument for use with. the differentclasses of records. In this connection I will call attention to the factthat the variations in longitudinal position of the valve-parts 27, 62,64 and 65, in chang ing from lateral-cut to vertical-cut records, causesthestylus-pressure to be automatically increased for the latter class ofrecords and reduced for the first-named classv It will be apparent that,by suitably proportioning the longitudinally movable parts, thevariations of stylus-pressure may be made as great or as little asdesired.

Now, having described my invention, what 1'. claim and desire to secureby Letters Pat cut is:

l. in a sound-reproducing mechanism, a tubular swingable arm having aplurality of lateral openings therein, a multiple sound lOOX fittingrovolubly on said arm and having diaphm m-chambers communicating withpassage extending in to the arm and adapted to re ister with the lateralopenings therein, a valve for closing said openings selectively, andmeans actuated by rotation rind-box for controlling said valve. 21sound-reproducing mechanism, a

sound-box comprising a tubular V t plura ty of tubular necks extendingradially therefrom, and diaphragm-cas iugs carried the outer ends ofsaid necks; a tubular arm upon which said sleeve is the fittedrevolubly, said arm having ports 'ter with the openings adapted toregister with the openings through the necks of the sound-box, and amember slidable longitudinally of the arm to open and close the portstherein.

3. In a sour-ii(treprodueing mechanism, a multiple sou :l-box comprisinga tubular sleeve, a pin; lity o'li'tnbular necks extending radiallytherefrom, and diaphragm-casings carried at the outer ends of saidnecks; a tubular arm upon which said sleeve is fitted revolubly, aid armhaving in the sides thereof a plural of? ports adapted to registhroughthe necks of the sound-box, a alve-member slidable longitudinally withinthe bore of the arm and having ports movable into and out of registerwith the ports in the arm, a cam-member connected with saidvalve-member, and means on the sound-box sleeve engageable with saidmain-member to move the valve during rotation oil the sound-box aboutthe arm.

4%. In a sou;nil-reproducing mechanism, a horizontally swingabletone-arm, a tubular arm pivoted on said tone-arm and swing ablevertically, a multiple sound-box fitting revolubly on said tubular arm,said soundbox having a plurality of diaphragms and associated.stylus-levers and styli, the several styli being movable to operativeposition solely by ro ation of the soundbo); about the tubular rm, therebeing separate diaphragm-chambers for each of said diaphragms, meansforming passages for con necting the several diaphragm-chambers with thepassage through the tubular arm when the respective diaphragms are inoperative position. and means controlled by rotation of the sound-boxfor closing the passages between the tone-arm and the diaphlegm-chambersof the parts not inoperative position.

5. A structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein the passage-closingmeans comprise parts movable longitudinally of the tubular arm to varythe effective weight upon that stylus which is in operativeposition.

6. A. structure as set forth in claim 4, wherein the passage-closingmeans com prise a valve movable within the tubular arm, anda cam-memberconnected with said valve and engageable with a part upon the sound-boxto be actuated thereby during rotation of the sound-box.

'7. In sound-reproducing mechanism, the combination 7 w l a multiplesound-box having plurality of diaphragms and diaphragm-cha1nbei's withpassages extending toward a common center, and a tubular arm upon whichthe sound-b0); is mounted revolubly, the arm having lateral portsadapted to register with the passages to the dia* phlegm-chambers atdetermined positions of the sound-ho); of a valve slidablelongitudinally within the tubular arm and having ports adapted toregister consecutively with the ports in the arm, a spring pressing saidvalve yieldingly to one position, a cam-memher connected fixedly withthe valve, and a part carried upon the sound-box and engaging thecam-member to move the same in op 'iosition to said spring), during apart of the rotation oi the sound-box about the tubular arm.

nJ. nonenns.

